A countless number of people across America announced they were gay Monday. Only one received praise from former President Bill Clinton. And Kobe Bryant.

But that's what happens when you reveal your sexual orientation on Sports Illustrated's website and become the first active male athlete in the country's four major professional sports to come out as gay.

"If I had my way, someone else would have already done this," wrote Jason Collins, a 34-year-old center who played at Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City and Stanford University before logging 12 seasons in the NBA. "Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

His story will appear May 6 in the magazine edition of Sports Illustrated.

The announcement rekindled the national conversation about the cultural impact of an openly gay male athlete in professional sports and whether they should conceal their sexual orientation.

"It's always good when you get a high-visibility person such as a sports figure, particularly for men, to come out and be open about their sexual orientation because it then keeps pushing the culture to actually recognize and accept other variations of sexual preference and orientation," said Marcia Marx, professor of sociology at Cal State San Bernardino.

FILE - In a Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 file photo, Boston Celtics' Jason Collins poses during Celtics NBA basketball media day at the team's training facility in Waltham, Mass. NBA veteran center Collins has become the first male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins wrote a first-person account posted Monday, April 29, 2013 on Sports Illustrated's website. He finished this past season with the Washington Wizards and is now a free agent. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File) (Michael Dwyer)

Marx said Collins' announcement will help reshape the idea of American masculinity.

"The world of sports is strongly connected to masculinity and that is connected to heterosexuality," she said. "It throws a monkey wrench into what it means to be masculine as constructed in the world of sports."

Paul Collins, the father of Jason Collins, recalled the moment his son told him he was gay.

" 'Can you guys come over? I want to talk about something,' " Paul Collins told the Bay Area News Group on Monday. "When you get a call like that, you don't know what it is. So Portia and I went over to his house and sat down. And he said, 'I'm gay, and I want you guys to know.' "

Jason Collins, who lives in Southern California, told his family about his sexual orientation last summer. He told his aunt, Teri, a Superior Court judge in San Francisco, his twin brother, Jarron, who also played at Stanford and in the NBA, and then his parents.

"My initial reaction was: 'I love you, and if you're gay, that's OK,'" Paul Collins said. "As a parent, you just want your children to feel good about themselves."

Paul Collins said he had no idea that his son was gay.

"But when he says, 'Here's the situation,' you take a deep breath and tell 'em you love 'em," he said.

While the nation on Monday talked about Collins, a free agent who finished the season with the Washington Wizards, others talked to him.

"One of the things Jason said is, his teammates have been supportive of him," said Wade Davis, a former NFL defensive back who last year announced he was gay. "I don't think there's going to be an issue at all."

That was one answer to speculation that Collins' announcement would have a disruptive effect in the locker room or on the basketball court.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro applauded Collins.

"I think it's everyone's personal decision. He's been in the league a long time, but that's the way he wanted to handle it and everyone's personality and everyone's situation are a little bit different. But if it makes him happy and he's comfortable, I applaud him for having the courage to come out the way he is. If it fits his lifestyle and it fits making him happy, that's the most important thing."

FILE - Boston Celtics center Jason Collins battles Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) for a rebound during the first half of their NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 in Los Angeles. NBA veteran center Collins has become the first male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins wrote a first-person account posted Monday, April 29, 2013 on Sports Illustrated's website.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) (Mark J. Terrill)

If he signs with a team next season, reaction from his teammates will vary, Del Negro said.

"Everybody's personality is different. We're living in a different time and the acceptance of that is going to determine the personality of the team or the teammates that he has and then they'll make adjustments accordingly.

"I played with Jason two years in Atlanta. One of the coolest teammates, he was always professional. He was actually one of the reasons we beat Orlando the second year because we didn't have to double-team Dwight (Howard). I think he's very brave."

As to whether Collins being openly gay would open the door for others to do the same, Davis urged caution. Especially for those encouraging other gay athletes to come out.

He said rumors about other athletes don't help.

"The one thing I would say about allies is, they are definitely needed," Davis said. "The one thing they lack is understanding what it's like to come out. They have to understand that (rumors) create a witch hunt. It causes gay athletes to get quieter and hide more."

Jim Buzinski, co-founder of Outsports.com, said the group has been expecting an active athlete to declare his sexual orientation, but had no idea that it would be Collins.

"It's a big deal," he said. "But it's only truly a big deal if he ends up with a team. He's walking in uncharted waters."

Buzinski hopes Collins is signed to a team based on his merits, not because he is gay.

"On the other side, I hope he doesn't remain a free agent because he's the gay guy," he said.

Davis, the former NFL defensive back, said athletes follow leaders.

For example, Lakers superstar Bryant lending support to Collins via Twitter goes a long way toward setting a positive tone, Davis said.

Bryant tweeted, "Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others #courage #support #mambaarmystandup #BYOU."

Wallace's tweet was met with a flurry of vitriol. He responded by saying he wasn't bashing anyone, only that he didn't understand.

He later removed the tweets.

Wallace then tweeted: "Never said anything was right or wrong I just said I don't understand Deeply sorry for anyone that I offended."

But overall, the public reaction from athletes was positive. Lakers guard Steve Nash said Collins' announcement would have an impact on a lot of people.

"I think it's fantastic he's taking such a positive and influential role," Nash said. "He's a spokesperson in many respects regardless if he totally wants to do that or not. By doing so, he set a really great message for society and for our culture."

A generational change in American views toward gays and lesbians has swept the country in recent years.

Americans in 2001 opposed same-sex marriage by a 57 percent to 35 percent margin, according to the Pew Research Center.

Today, 49 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage, while 44 percent are opposed, with millennials more than twice as likely as the Silent Generation to support same-sex marriage, according to the research center.

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, who is straight but has been a public ally to gays, said he is happy for Collins.

"Jason is living proof that your sexuality has nothing to do with your athletic ability," said Kluwe, a 31-year-old Huntington Beach resident, who graduated from Los Alamitos High School and UCLA. "No one should ever have to hide their core character, and this will hopefully inspire many other gay (and straight) people to treat each other with empathy and respect."

Collins played in a Final Four for Stanford and reached two NBA Finals.

He was the 18th pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft. Mostly a backup in his career, Collins has averaged 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics and Wizards. He was traded from Boston to Washington in February.

The Rev. Rick Eisenlord of Good Shepherd Church Pasadena, who is also president of the Pasadena Pride Center, said Collins will provide an example to other gay men.

"One of my best friends is a 20-year-old black male who just came out to his parents during Christmas, and it didn't go well," Eisenlord said. "With Jason coming out, this gives him a role model to let him know that he'll be OK. The message that he got is that he's defective, but the fact that he can have someone like Jason Collins will give him the courage for him to come out."

Eisenlord said Collins will give young gay men hope that there is nothing wrong with them.

"I think the fact that we have programs on TV like 'Modern Family' and celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres - they're role models," he said. "I grew up in the '60s. When I grew up, I didn't have an Ellen DeGeneres, a Jason Collins. I didn't have someone like (CNN anchor) Anderson Cooper."

Still, the discussion about Collins may be a sign that Americans are not completely accustomed to gays in mainstream culture.

"It's the (oh my God) response that you have an athlete in the world of sports who is gay," Marx said. "It just shows that we have a long way to go in terms of our acceptance of others who are anything other than heterosexual."

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